Ever decreasing circles
A report by Dr William Bird, the health adviser to Natural England warns that the mental health of 21st century children is at risk because they are missing out on the exposure to the natural world enjoyed by past generations. The report uses four generations of one family to demonstrate how the freedom given to children has changed over the years. The oldest member of the family used to roam for up to six miles from home unaccompanied at the age of eight while his great grandson now aged eight spends little time on his own outside his garden. The report also found that children’s behaviour and school work improved if their playground contained grassy areas, ponds and trees.
(Mail, p26, David Derbyshire, ¾ page)
